Magical realism differs from other genres of fiction because it’s reality is based on the what an author might believe to be true or what he or she has experienced. Magical realism is often quite difficult to understand because it asks the reader to take what they know to be true in the real world and accept completely different truth. Magical realism is similar to other genres of fiction but separates itself by its basic assumptions of elements of reality. Ghosts, angels, mermaids, and giants are all fantastical elements of magic that are present in many genres of fiction but are considered ordinary in magical realism. As Edward Bloom plans to leave town in Tim Burton's film Big Fish, Bloom recalls in his past that a giant was destroying
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In the beginning of Big Fish, Edward Bloom decides to take an alternate route to meet with the giant but is attacked by trees midway. Bloom is not shocked by this encounter but only reminds himself that he will not die this way and happily moves on. Blooms reaction to the trees was not surprised by the fact that they attacked him, but probably more fearful that the trees might hurt him. The aggressive trees are a part of a magical realism because they were normal to Bloom. Also, in the second need for Ultima’s powers in Bless me Ultima, Tellez had said that “the pots and pans, the dishes lift into the air and crash into the walls!” Hot water also “burned one of my (his) children.” Although Tellez may have sounded haunted by what he had experienced, Ultima knew that “... three tortured spirits...are (were) manipulated by brujas” which had caused the haunting to occur (225). It was then that everyone saw the live objects as ordinary because they understood that witches had caused spirits to haunt the house. The magical aspect of ordinary objects taking life is a magical realism element because the characters see it as typical. Also as Ultima was in the process of curing Tony’s uncle she “...lifted the three dolls and put them to” Antonio’s “sick uncle's mouth,” and while doing so “...[the dolls] seemed to squirm in her hands,”(101). The dolls moving represents a fantastical element, but the lack of bewilderment by Antonio shows how this was ordinary in the character’s world. The magical realism element of daily objects taking life shows contrast to fantasy through the character's view of the objects as
In the beginning of Big Fish, Edward Bloom decides to take an alternate route to meet with the giant but is attacked by trees midway. Bloom is not shocked by this encounter but only reminds himself that he will not die this way and happily moves on. Blooms reaction to the trees was not surprised by the fact that they attacked him, but probably more fearful that the trees might hurt him. The aggressive trees are a part of a magical realism because they were normal to Bloom. Also, in the second need for Ultima’s powers in Bless me Ultima, Tellez had said that “the pots and pans, the dishes lift into the air and crash into the walls!” Hot water also “burned one of my (his) children.” Although Tellez may have sounded haunted by what he had experienced, Ultima knew that “... three tortured spirits...are (were) manipulated by brujas” which had caused the haunting to occur (225). It was then that everyone saw the live objects as ordinary because they understood that witches had caused spirits to haunt the house. The magical aspect of ordinary objects taking life is a magical realism element because the characters see it as typical. Also as Ultima was in the process of curing Tony’s uncle she “...lifted the three dolls and put them to” Antonio’s “sick uncle's mouth,” and while doing so “...[the dolls] seemed to squirm in her hands,”(101). The dolls moving represents a fantastical element, but the lack of bewilderment by Antonio shows how this was ordinary in the character’s world. The magical realism element of daily objects taking life shows contrast to fantasy through the character's view of the objects as